LOS ANGELES — Brittney Griner blushes and lets out an infectious smile when asked about her recent proposal to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson.

"Yes, I put a ring on it," Griner says.

The 6-8 women's basketball star is used to the spotlight for her uncanny athleticism with the Phoenix Mercury on the court and her candid personality off it. Now, Griner says, it's all "falling into place."

"When you have your personal life in check, it makes everything else better," Griner told USA TODAY Sports of her engagement to Johnson, who plays for the Tulsa Shock. "I will say this: I'm definitely happy, and it was a big point in my life. When you find the one, you really know. I just knew. I was more nervous (proposing) than anything in my whole life. I almost passed out."

Both Arizona and Oklahoma, the two home states of Griner and Johnson's teams, have gay marriage bans currently being contested by the Supreme Court. Griner and her reps wouldn't disclose wedding plans to USA TODAY Sports but Griner noted her primary focus is on the WNBA playoffs, where the Mercury are a favorite to win the title.

After finishing a league-record 29-5 in the regular season and sweeping the Los Angeles Sparks in the first round of the playoffs, now Phoenix has to get past the defending champion Minnesota Lynx in a series that starts Friday.

Johnson has been traveling to support Griner on her playoff run with the Mercury.

"She's a big supporter of me and yes, I'm able to stay focused," Griner said. "Now I need the other ring to go with the ring I've got now."

Griner's game has never been better. Sunday, she went a perfect 9-for-9 from the floor to finish with 21 points. Two of those points included the first dunk in WNBA playoff history. "That's what I do," Griner said nonchalantly after the game. "I dunk."

After breaking the single-season shot block record with 129 – including 11 in one game against the Shock on June 29 — Griner was recently honored as the WNBA's defensive player of the year, an award that speaks to her maturity on the court since coming into the league last season and admittedly tip-toeing.

"People want to talk about MVP. Defense is the only award I'm fit for, it's what I want my legacy to known as — a defensive stopper and threat in the paint," Griner said. "This year has been big for me, it's just feeling comfortable. (Diana Taurasi) told me at the beginning of the year, 'if you wanna go do something, just do it.'"

Griner used the winter playing overseas in China for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls as a chance to imrprove her game and she used it as a springboard for the 2014 season.

"The development of Brittney has been great, but it's not a surprise," said Mercury first-year coach Sandy Brondello, who was named the WNBA's coach of the year. "It's really what we expected of her, especially from last year and it's more about her development. What we see this year, we are going to see an even better version next year."

GALLERY: Griner through the years

Brittney Griner emerged as a full-fledged WNBA star during her second season with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014. Flip through the gallery for a look at Griner's basketball career. (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

Griner's life off the court, on top of an upcoming marriage, has changed quite a bit since she first came into the league as a hyped star who made headlines for her openness on her sexuality. She still is a bacon fanatic and eats junk food – Jack in the Box is her go-to fast food – but has added steamed rice to her diet after playing in China. She's parted ways with her pet snakes, Audi and Sage, and got a small dog.

"I wanted a dog but not a big dog right off the bat," Griner said. "I got a Yorkie and we mesh real good together. It's funny, he thinks he's a big dog like a German Shepherd."

"Maturity?" Mercury teammate Diana Taurasi asks, laughing as Griner is goofing off and telling jokes in the locker room following the Mercury's series-clinching victory vs. the Sparks. "I think last year was a big learning experience for her going from college to the WNBA. It's a mindset. …The best part about Brittney that will never change is she's so real. She's not faking. That'd be corny. Since she's come into the league, there's been no hiding. (Homosexuality) isn't something everyone wants to talk about, but in our sport it's in your face. It's almost silly not to talk about it. Her openness has helped change that perception."

Contributing: The Associated Press.

GALLERY: WNBA playoffs in photos

WNBA FINALS | Game 3 in Chicago -- Mercury 87, Sky 82: Phoenix celebrates after finishing off a three-game sweep of Chicago to clinch the third WNBA championship in team history. (Photo: Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports)